The Palm
1225 19th St. NW
(202) 293-9091
Located just above the hustle and bustle of the business end of 19th Street lies The Palm Restaurant. Well known throughout D.C. as well as across America, The Palm is known for its wealthy clientele and outstanding classic steakhouse food.
{mosads}Due to its ideal location, close to many large organizations and businesses, it has become an ideal spot for those wishing to conduct business while enjoying a good meal.
The restaurant has a special menu designed for those interested in meeting here. The menu includes a three-course meal with a starter, main entrée with a side and a dessert all for a special low price. Options include a Caesar salad or the soup of the day; twin tenderloin filets or chicken Parmesan, and New York-style cheesecake for dessert, among many others.
The Palm also has a current special which pays homage to the television hit “Mad Men” and the characters’ affinity for power lunches which feature alcohol. This menu is entitled the “Mad Men” menu and includes the same three-course meal options, except with the addition of the ever-classic martini.
If you’re looking for a quiet dining location for your meeting, The Palm offers limited seating on the front patio with a view of the street that maintains a more silent environment. However, most of the restaurant maintains a very light environment where constant chatter and laughter can be heard.
If you want it to be a little bit quieter, try to avoid prime lunch hours, and head in around 1:30 p.m. That being said, The Palm is not all business all the time. They also have a bar area, which is always busy during lunch, where you can catch up on the latest sports scores and news while still enjoying the same service as the main area.
The service is surprisingly quick for the quality of the food and the staff is extremely accommodating to any issues you may have.
The Palm is open for lunch from 11:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays.
Smith and Wollensky’s
1112 19th St. NW
(202) 466-1100
Located in the midst of offices and chain sandwich shops lies Smith and Wollensky’s Restaurant a high-end steakhouse.
As it is submersed in city life, it is a great location for a power lunch without having to inconvenience anyone with far travel.
Smith and Wollensky’s offers many seating options including an outdoor patio, bar, and indoor seating by reservation or walk-ins. They have several private dining rooms that seat varying numbers.
Ideal for power lunch meetings, they have what is known as The Board Room. The room seats 12 and is appointed with leather seating, a large table and formal decorations. It is soundproof so the noise from the rest of the diners does not affect your meeting. The website boasts that this room is “great for working lunches or dinners and confidential meetings.”
If you are interested in a more relaxed meeting environment the outdoor patio is great during these dwindling days of fall. Soft classic rock is played, and the constant shuffling of men and women going about their business allows for a free-flow of casual conversation.
Smith and Wollensky’s has a smaller lunch menu, which has reasonable prices, though not the widest selection. However, you can order off of the dinner menu at any time. Both menus offer classic steakhouse foods, as well as some modern additions such as flatbread pizzas. They also have an extensive dessert menu including a five-layer chocolate cake.
Smith and Wollensky’s opens at 11:30 a.m. on weekdays for lunch.